Reid on DADT

Harry Reid says he’d support a permanent repeal of the Pentagon’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays in the military:

“We’re having trouble getting people into the military,” Mr. Reid told reporters when questioned about whether he could support an 18-month moratorium on enforcing a prohibition on gays in the armed forces. “And I think that we shouldn’t turn down anybody that’s willing to fight for our country, certainly based on sexual orientation.”

Mr. Reid said he would go the proposal, being considered by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, one better and support a permanent repeal of the ban.

This is a useful bellwether. Reid doesn’t generally stick his neck out on stuff like this, and up until recently he’s been distinctly lukewarm about even engaging with the issue. So if he’s decided to take a firm stand, it’s probably because he doesn’t think there’s really much risk in it anymore. It’s become a pretty mainstream position. If we can just get the Pentagon brass to say the same thing, maybe we’ll finally make some progress on this.